Into the Wild: A Scientist's Journey through Amazonian Field Research

Monday, 14th April 2025

By Paula Perrelli dos Anjos

Today, we bring to you a fascinating interview with Dr Karin Begazo Curie, one of the researchers of the paper Food Security in the Peruvian Amazon, published by the Food Security Journal.

Over the past month, we were in touch with Karin and Dr Liesbet Vranken to write about their research findings in the Amazon (Food Security in Peruvian Amazon).

While reviewing the paper, we grew curious about the personal experience behind their journey into the forest to interview Indigenous People and remote communities.

At Amazonia Impact Ventures (AIV), working closely with cooperatives of farmers in the Amazon is our expertise, but Karin sheds new light on the challenges that local communities face in their daily lives and their deep connection to the forest that sustains them.

We knew this story would be extraordinary, and we are thrilled to share our exclusive interview with Karin Begazo Curie here. Our heartfelt thank you to Karin Begazo Curie for her time and openness in sharing the challenges and triumphs of the fieldwork in this remarkable project.

What inspired you to focus on the role of forests in rural livelihoods and food security in the Peruvian Amazon?

As a forester, I had the opportunity to travel across the Peruvian Amazon and see firsthand how important forests are for local people, not only as natural ecosystems but also as vital support systems for local communities. However, many of the benefits, such as nontimber forest products and forest foods, are often neglected by national statistics when measuring the contributions of forests. This inspired me to assess and highlight these often-overlooked contributions and work towards making the benefits of Amazonian forests more visible.

Could you describe the most surprising research discovery that challenged your expectations?

The most surprising discovery was how forest foods serve as a vital coping mechanism for households facing food insecurity, especially in remote areas. In these isolated regions, where alternative income sources are limited and basic services are scarce, forest products and foods become a lifeline. We were also struck by how these foods go beyond nourishment—they’re shared during labour exchanges and mutual aid activities, strengthening community bonds. This underscores not only the resilience of these communities, but the deep social and cultural connection between forest dwellers and the forests that sustain them.

How could we help indigenous communities face the difficulties of food insecurity in the forest?

I think it's essential to support both their traditional knowledge and sustainable practices while addressing immediate needs. First, empowering indigenous communities with resources, education, and training can help improve food production without damaging the ecosystem. Preserving and enhancing forest biodiversity is also key, for example, through the domestication of preferred and nutritious traditional foods.

Furthermore, strengthening local markets and improving access to them can help ensure that indigenous peoples can exchange their products for the goods they need. Premium pricing could also be an option for rewarding sustainable practices. Finally, involving these communities in decision-making ensures they have a voice in shaping policies that directly affect them.

In your opinion, how can we balance forest conservation with improving market access and livelihood opportunities for indigenous and rural communities?

In my view, balancing forest conservation with improving market access and livelihood opportunities requires a holistic approach that acknowledges the close relationship between people and the environment. I believe conservation efforts should not only focus on protecting ecosystems, but also on enhancing the well-being of local communities who depend on these forests for their livelihoods. This involves creating economic opportunities that align with the cultural and ecological values of these communities.

One way to achieve this balance is by promoting sustainable practices that allow communities to use forest resources without degrading them. For example, supporting sustainable forest entrepreneurship through non-timber forest products, agroforestry, ecotourism, or developing value chains for sustainably harvested goods can provide economic opportunities while preserving biodiversity. I also think it's crucial to address structural barriers—such as limited education, basic services, and accessibility—so that communities can actively participate in decision-making processes, adopt sustainable practices and build resilience.

At the core, success depends on respecting traditional knowledge as complementary to scientific conservation strategies. When Indigenous governance systems are empowered, rather than bypassed, we can see forests thrive alongside prospering communities.

What were some of the challenges you faced during the fieldwork, especially in remote villages?

We faced several challenges during fieldwork. One of the main issues was the households' distrust of outsiders, as many indigenous communities have been deceived in the past by foreigners who promised help but exploited their land. This made households initially sceptical and reluctant to engage with us. We also encountered difficulties in valuing forest products that lacked market prices and in standardizing measurement units like baskets, buckets, and bunches, which were necessary to assess household income accurately.

Another challenge was the lack of basic services, such as electricity and clean water, which highlighted the disparities between these communities and urban areas. Poor accessibility was also a major issue, with roads often becoming impassable during the rainy season. In some cases, we had to rely on small boats or walk long distances to reach the villages, adding complexity to our logistics.

How do deforestation and forest degradation impact the communities you studied? Can you share an experience with us?

Deforestation and forest degradation have had a severe impact on the communities we studied, particularly in less remote villages where the original forest cover has been cleared for pastures and monocropping. We observed severe soil degradation in these areas, as well as a noticeable change in the microclimate, with higher temperatures compared to remote villages that still have well-preserved forests.

We also found that poor households are renting their lands for monoculture farming, which could accelerate land degradation and further diminish their ability to use the land for subsistence. During our fieldwork, we interviewed households that reported a decline in forest product availability. Where they once could easily hunt wild animals and gather essential resources nearby, many now walk for hours to find them, resources that are an important part of their traditional diet. This shift might not only threaten communities’ food security but could also erode cultural practices tied to hunting and gathering.

As researchers, how do you balance the urgency of publishing insights with the prospect of influencing policymakers and local stakeholders effectively?

As researchers, balancing timely publication with meaningful impact presents an ongoing challenge. There’s natural pressure to publish quickly—whether to share important insights, contribute to academic conversations, or meet professional expectations. Yet, we believe it is equally important to translate those findings into formats that resonate with practitioners, policymakers and diverse stakeholders.

This might mean turning complex data into clear visuals for community leaders or adapting technical language into actionable recommendations for decision-makers. In the end, our goal is to have both academic and societal impact, ensuring our research contributes not just to knowledge, but actually makes a real change.

What motivates you most about your work, especially in a region as fascinating as the Amazon?

As an academic, I’m particularly interested in the socio-economic aspects of forests and the Peruvian Amazon offers a great opportunity to explore, for example, how forests impact local communities, both in terms of the resources they provide and the economic and cultural benefits they offer. The Amazon is home to an incredible geographic, ecological and sociocultural diversity, making it a rich source for research.

What further questions would need to be addressed in future research to deepen our understanding of food security in the region?

In my opinion, there are several key areas future research should focus on, such as how changes in land use—like deforestation or the expansion of monoculture farming—affect local food systems and the availability of traditional food sources. We also need to explore the long-term effects of climate change on agricultural productivity and food accessibility.

Additionally, understanding the impact of local governance and community-based resource management on food access could provide valuable insights. Equally important is addressing the relationship between dietary diversity and overall health outcomes in rural communities, to better understand how food security influences long-term well-being.

For people reading this interview, what’s one thing you hope they take away about the value of forests in rural livelihoods?

I hope readers take away that forests are crucial to the livelihoods and food security of rural communities, particularly the poor and vulnerable. They often make the difference between having something to eat and going hungry, yet their value is frequently overlooked in economic discussions. Without preserving forests, many communities would face severe difficulties in meeting even their most basic needs.

Do you have any personal anecdotes from the fieldwork that showcase the importance of your study?

We had several anecdotes from the field that highlighted the importance of our study. One example stands out: travelling by road during the rainy season was extremely difficult, and our motorcycles got stuck in the mud several times. We spent hours trying to fix them in the middle of nowhere—a situation that farmers face regularly. This presents a significant limitation for them, as it makes it difficult to reach markets and trade their farm and forest products.

Another meaningful experience occurred when our food supply ran low while visiting remote villages that were inaccessible by large boats and where households were widely dispersed. We had to rent small boats, walk long distances, and carry only limited quantities of food with us. Despite their poverty, the households in these villages always offered to share whatever food they had, usually bananas and forest fruits. During our walks to interview households, children would sometimes accompany us, picking fruits from trees to share as snacks.

I was deeply touched not only by their generosity and kindness but also by their knowledge of edible foods. This experience left me with valuable insights: the importance of preserving traditional knowledge, the significance of healthy forests providing a diversity of goods and services, and the crucial role of forests as a vital source of food.

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